Location, location, location........
This unspoilt area offers a variety of outdoor activities to keep the family happy, including riding, fishing, biking, walking, etc.
The property is the last one of only 4 houses located on a country lane along which only 3 or 4 cars pass on a busy day. The views from the south facing garden are uninterrupted and spectacular.
It is a 5-minute drive, 10 min cycle ride or 20 minute walk to local shops (butcher, baker, co-op, pharmacy, garage, bar), at Ladignac-Le-Long, where there is a wonderful (free) swimming lake with sandy beach, changing facilities and life-guard. There is also a children's play area, pedalos for hire and tennis courts.
A 10-minute drive in the other direction takes you to la Meyze or St Hilaire where you can get good, four-course meals, with wine, for 12 Euro.
15 minutes drive north takes you to Nexon where there is a huge 'Super-U' supermarket as well as a picturesque chateau and several restaurants. There is a market here every second Friday. Make sure you do lunch 'Chez Fifi' but get there before 12:30 if you want a table. A fantastic lunch and often a memorable experience should the proprietor decide to entertain....
Within 20 minutes drive west you can be standing where Richard the Lionheart was slain in Chalus. http://whtten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2lusww.weeblylink_new_window
There is a larger selection of shops, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, bike hire and horse riding at the lively and charming market town of St Yrieix-la-Perche just a 15-minute drive away to the south. There is an excellent market there every second Friday. http://www.guide2limousin.com/information/246/St-Yrieix-la-Perche-Haute-Vienne-Limousinweeblylink_new_window
Limoges is just 35 minutes drive away, with its mediaeval centre, wonderful porcelain, museums and golf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limogesweeblylink_new_window
Limoges International airport is 40km away, less than 40 minutes drive.
The beautiful Dordogne and Vezere areas are within easy reach for day-trips.
Wildlife
Wildlife in the vicinity is varied. Depending on season you can hear or spot deer, wild boar, hares, foxes, polecats, red squirrels, dormice, badgers, bats, owls, herons, cranes, buzzards, golden oriole, hoopoe, nightingales, nightjars, marbled newt, mole crickets, frogs and toads, amongst others.
In autumn mushrooms are abundant, as are chestnuts which just have to be roasted on top of the wood burner......
There is an extensive range of 'old fashioned' wild flowers and trees.
Whilst summers are long and hot, each of the 4 seasons is defined by climate and each brings its own charms.
Activities
Keep your eyes and ears open for information about the numerous Vides Greniers that take place in the area throughout the spring, summer and autumn. These are the local equivalent of ‘car boot sales’ but tend to be more inclined to bric a brac and antiques.
The house is ideally situated for days out in the Dordogne region with its châteaux, pre-historic man sites and vineyards.
Make sure you visit the gold mines near Jumilhac-le-Grand, picnic by the river or perhaps have dinner in the square overlooking the floodlit chateau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumilhac-le-Grandweeblylink_new_window
The region abounds with picturesque and historic places to visit, art exhibitions, chateaux, panoramic views, caves and grottoes, local fetes, community picnics, traditional restaurants, bars, markets, agricultural and country fairs, concerts and music festivals, international motorcycle hill climbs, and go-karting.
The area is generally known as the Lake District of France, and some of the many attractions are the leisure lakes (Plans d’eau) with their man made beaches open for public use. In the immediate area is the Lake at Ladignac Le Long (only 5 mins away) and there are numerous others at St Yrieix, St Hilaire, St Mathieu, Rochechouart, St Saud Lacaussiere and Bussiere Gallant. A little further away are the lakes at St Estephe and St Pardoux.
The local countryside can be explored on foot, using the many marked walkways and footpaths. Check out the red deer Walk described on the notice board in the Church Square at Ladignac.
Local restaurants offer a chance to taste traditional Perigourdian or Limousine fare. Prices range from easy on the pocket (€12 for 4 courses including a bottle of wine) to satisfyingly expensive (no change out of €150 for two).
The area is an angler's paradise. As well as the Plan d'Eaux at Ladignac and St Hilaire, there are 3 carp lakes within 5 minutes walk of the house. (Fishing is by negotiation with neighbours) and there is a Category 1 stream just 500m down the lane. (Category 1 indicates that trout are present) A 10-minute drive in the direction of St Yrieix takes you to the River Isle where you can fly fish for brown trout
For specimen barbel or carp anglers, the River Vienne, (just 20 mins drive), is full of hard fighting specimen fish. A competent angler is unlikely to blank and a 12 kilo carp from a big river like the Vienne takes a lot of stopping so tackle up accordingly. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aixe-sur-Vienne.weeblylink_new_window
The property is within easy striking distance of the 3 main regional centres of Limoges, Angouleme and Perigueux, where there are a variety of attractions, from shopping, cinemas, theatre, zoos, aquarium and parks.
A favourite day out is a trip to the Cognac area and a chance to visit the factories and purchase direct.
Less than a couple of hours over easy roads ( and no traffic) gets you to Beynac - for our money the most magnificent chateau in the whole of France. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Beynacweeblylink_new_window
Don't forget to go canoeing on the river at Aixd sur Vienne or beautiful Brantome, with its historic town centre and troglodyte caves and museum. The 1/2 day trip is brilliant fun for all the family. (If you have teenagers this is your best chance to give the a run for their money over a 2hr or 4hr trip down this most beautiful of rivers,) http://www.dordogne-vacation.com/travel-dordogne/brantome.htmweeblylink_new_window
More locally you can follow the path of King Richard the Lionheart as he travelled through the area, visiting various chateaux before being slain at Chalus (just 20 minutes away).
A 'must do' while in the area is a visit to one of the many porcelain factories and shops. There are factory and shop outlets in St Yrieix, and a large one in Aixe sur Vienne (30 minutes) and the famous De Havilland plant in Limoges with it's shop; this is where porcelain manufacture began.
The property is the last one of only 4 houses located on a country lane along which only 3 or 4 cars pass on a busy day. The views from the south facing garden are uninterrupted and spectacular.
It is a 5-minute drive, 10 min cycle ride or 20 minute walk to local shops (butcher, baker, co-op, pharmacy, garage, bar), at Ladignac-Le-Long, where there is a wonderful (free) swimming lake with sandy beach, changing facilities and life-guard. There is also a children's play area, pedalos for hire and tennis courts.
A 10-minute drive in the other direction takes you to la Meyze or St Hilaire where you can get good, four-course meals, with wine, for 12 Euro.
15 minutes drive north takes you to Nexon where there is a huge 'Super-U' supermarket as well as a picturesque chateau and several restaurants. There is a market here every second Friday. Make sure you do lunch 'Chez Fifi' but get there before 12:30 if you want a table. A fantastic lunch and often a memorable experience should the proprietor decide to entertain....
Within 20 minutes drive west you can be standing where Richard the Lionheart was slain in Chalus. http://whtten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2lusww.weeblylink_new_window
There is a larger selection of shops, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, bike hire and horse riding at the lively and charming market town of St Yrieix-la-Perche just a 15-minute drive away to the south. There is an excellent market there every second Friday. http://www.guide2limousin.com/information/246/St-Yrieix-la-Perche-Haute-Vienne-Limousinweeblylink_new_window
Limoges is just 35 minutes drive away, with its mediaeval centre, wonderful porcelain, museums and golf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limogesweeblylink_new_window
Limoges International airport is 40km away, less than 40 minutes drive.
The beautiful Dordogne and Vezere areas are within easy reach for day-trips.
Wildlife
Wildlife in the vicinity is varied. Depending on season you can hear or spot deer, wild boar, hares, foxes, polecats, red squirrels, dormice, badgers, bats, owls, herons, cranes, buzzards, golden oriole, hoopoe, nightingales, nightjars, marbled newt, mole crickets, frogs and toads, amongst others.
In autumn mushrooms are abundant, as are chestnuts which just have to be roasted on top of the wood burner......
There is an extensive range of 'old fashioned' wild flowers and trees.
Whilst summers are long and hot, each of the 4 seasons is defined by climate and each brings its own charms.
Activities
Keep your eyes and ears open for information about the numerous Vides Greniers that take place in the area throughout the spring, summer and autumn. These are the local equivalent of ‘car boot sales’ but tend to be more inclined to bric a brac and antiques.
The house is ideally situated for days out in the Dordogne region with its châteaux, pre-historic man sites and vineyards.
Make sure you visit the gold mines near Jumilhac-le-Grand, picnic by the river or perhaps have dinner in the square overlooking the floodlit chateau. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumilhac-le-Grandweeblylink_new_window
The region abounds with picturesque and historic places to visit, art exhibitions, chateaux, panoramic views, caves and grottoes, local fetes, community picnics, traditional restaurants, bars, markets, agricultural and country fairs, concerts and music festivals, international motorcycle hill climbs, and go-karting.
The area is generally known as the Lake District of France, and some of the many attractions are the leisure lakes (Plans d’eau) with their man made beaches open for public use. In the immediate area is the Lake at Ladignac Le Long (only 5 mins away) and there are numerous others at St Yrieix, St Hilaire, St Mathieu, Rochechouart, St Saud Lacaussiere and Bussiere Gallant. A little further away are the lakes at St Estephe and St Pardoux.
The local countryside can be explored on foot, using the many marked walkways and footpaths. Check out the red deer Walk described on the notice board in the Church Square at Ladignac.
Local restaurants offer a chance to taste traditional Perigourdian or Limousine fare. Prices range from easy on the pocket (€12 for 4 courses including a bottle of wine) to satisfyingly expensive (no change out of €150 for two).
The area is an angler's paradise. As well as the Plan d'Eaux at Ladignac and St Hilaire, there are 3 carp lakes within 5 minutes walk of the house. (Fishing is by negotiation with neighbours) and there is a Category 1 stream just 500m down the lane. (Category 1 indicates that trout are present) A 10-minute drive in the direction of St Yrieix takes you to the River Isle where you can fly fish for brown trout
For specimen barbel or carp anglers, the River Vienne, (just 20 mins drive), is full of hard fighting specimen fish. A competent angler is unlikely to blank and a 12 kilo carp from a big river like the Vienne takes a lot of stopping so tackle up accordingly. http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aixe-sur-Vienne.weeblylink_new_window
The property is within easy striking distance of the 3 main regional centres of Limoges, Angouleme and Perigueux, where there are a variety of attractions, from shopping, cinemas, theatre, zoos, aquarium and parks.
A favourite day out is a trip to the Cognac area and a chance to visit the factories and purchase direct.
Less than a couple of hours over easy roads ( and no traffic) gets you to Beynac - for our money the most magnificent chateau in the whole of France. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Beynacweeblylink_new_window
Don't forget to go canoeing on the river at Aixd sur Vienne or beautiful Brantome, with its historic town centre and troglodyte caves and museum. The 1/2 day trip is brilliant fun for all the family. (If you have teenagers this is your best chance to give the a run for their money over a 2hr or 4hr trip down this most beautiful of rivers,) http://www.dordogne-vacation.com/travel-dordogne/brantome.htmweeblylink_new_window
More locally you can follow the path of King Richard the Lionheart as he travelled through the area, visiting various chateaux before being slain at Chalus (just 20 minutes away).
A 'must do' while in the area is a visit to one of the many porcelain factories and shops. There are factory and shop outlets in St Yrieix, and a large one in Aixe sur Vienne (30 minutes) and the famous De Havilland plant in Limoges with it's shop; this is where porcelain manufacture began.